Pride fills my chest with his refusal to give in and play the bully’s game, especially with the insult of referring to him by familial name.
His Majesty clasps his hands and strides toward the front of the stage, when he turns toward the Citadel to a cacophony of joyful voices carrying across the inlet.
“Merely children playing in the yard at the orphanage, Your Majesty,” Lorn explains, pushing his glasses back up the ridge of his nose.
“Silence them,” the Emperor commands.
I nod and swallow against the shame of being made to carry out this requirement.
“He can’t be serious.” Varic’s tone is hushed, though incredulous, and my heart slams against my ribs with the fear anyone else might have heard him. “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to do this. It is my Dragon bonding ceremony, and I couldn’t care less about the noise. Let the children play. It’s not distracting me any.” He glares at our ruler, who turns to me, displeased with my dawdling. “How are you meant to cast your magic so far away?” Varic asks, turning his head to speak directly in my ear.
“Carefully,” I say, closing my eyes to seek out their happiness, which I will need to siphon in order to imbue them with a more somber mood.
“Can’t we send a falcon with a missive to have them play indoors?” Varic wonders aloud, and I release a breath, wishing I could explain how this is not about the children, or their noise.
Nor is His Majesty annoyed with their ability to both experience and express their joy. It is nothing more than an act of cruelty, which the Emperor tends to conflate with being powerful.
Cirrin’s hand winds its way around my wrist, bolstering me so I might be able to do this.
I release a breath and send my magic across the field, then over the drawbridge, to wind through the streets and past the towers, until their unbridled joy calls to me, so easy to discern from all the workers and households which do not contain the same emotion.
My stomach drops once I find the bundle of tiny vibrant tendrils ranging in color from bright yellow to deep orange, emitting from their tiny bodies in an explosion of enjoyment. I refuse to siphon anything from them, determined instead to leave their excitement intact. Instead, I imbue them with a sense of apathy, heart twisting with the speed at which their noise decreases, worrying I might have overdone the dosage.
Yet His Majesty nods in commendation, and I mirror him in acknowledgement.
“Welcome, esteemed guests,” Emperor Aldritch begins now that the sound of children playing has disappeared, allowing his voice to ring clear. “We have the honor of witnessing one of the most sacred ceremonies in our Empire, one where Imperial Lead Guard Varic, in vowing his life to protect Imperial Grand Witch Tasch, will be selected by one of our benefactors—the most powerful, cunning, and ruthless of creatures—who will honor him with the formation of a blood-bond.” His Majesty’s mood remains stable as I monitor it, allowing my lungs to depress with relief, though he never remains content for long.
Imperial Priest Kado strides over and announces, “Now, please focus your attention on the banners as we reveal Imperial Lead Guard Varic’s signet!” A symbol selected in part by the Dragons, though traditionally they do not join us when debuting it.
Four acolytes from the Temple of the Dragon step forward, each wearing a crisp black uniform. They each take hold of the golden tacks securing the black fabric over the signet banner while I allow my gaze to stray to Varic and watch his reaction as the Emperor calls, “Acolytes, reveal the signet!”
They move as one to peel back the excess fabric and reveal the embroidered outline of a sun whose rays cast outward while a bolt of gold lightning blasts down its center. My chest constricts with the intent behind this combination, while Varic acts as if he is honored by the signet featuring the image of the magic which killed his friend. Both symbols connect to his level of power, the last I would think to attribute to him. He is so much more than the strength of his magic.
“The sun represents immense power, as I have appointed the most powerful force sorcerer on the Continent to lead Imperial Grand Witch Tasch’s detail.” His Majesty projects his voice over the crowd’s cheers.
I wind my figurative fists around my magic to keep from unleashing every bit of fear he has ever instilled in me straight into his heart now that his statement confirms all that we’ve suspected—that his wish has been to brag about the leader of my Guard being the most powerful force sorcerer.
Yet there is no reason for him to be so disrespectful to both Hendry and his memory. Because while his statement is true, it could have been handled with more tact than he chose to use. Publicly bringing attention to the reason he kept Varic and the rest of us separated—forcing Varic to live without knowing the other Anomalies, all while treating Hendry with such cruelty after the immense power Varic possesses—became known across the Continent.
“Whereas the lightning bolt represents his strongest form of magic, as well as that of his strength in leadership, which he will continue to prove in his new role serving the Dragons, Ampara Deicra, and our Imperial Grand Witch Tasch.”
Cheers pierce my eardrums as my insides writhe with disgust. I scratch the inside of my palms as they itch with the wish to take this cretin out of existence. Yet this is Varic’s moment, and his respectful bow pulls me from my need for vengeance just long enough to bring me back to the present.
“Now, Sergeant Varic will present himself to the unbound Dragons,” the Emperor says by mistake.
“Imperial Lead Guard Varic,” Lorn leans in to correct under his breath.
“Exactly as I said,” His Majesty argues while I study him, uncertain if he failed to recognize he stated a title Varic hasn’t held for the last two years or not.
“Imperial Lead Guard Varic will present himself, unshielded and unarmed, to every Dragon yet to bond with a sorcerer, so they might assess a possible connection in a way only the Dragons understand, until one should deem him a match.” His Majesty coughs, then shakily takes the glass of water promptly offered by a servant, guzzling half before passing it back.
“In the event none identify him as a match, the Elder Dragons will deliberate to determine the next course of action.” Emperor Aldritch extends his palm to Varic, who steps forward at the same time as Imperial Guard Roy takes his place on my left.
I spare a glance at Roy’s bright green eyes, which flick over to me just as quickly as they leave.
A sense of loss comes over me the farther away Varic strides in the direction of the tall gray boulder jutting from the ground. Conflicting thoughts and feelings war within me, yearning for him to experience this, while also wishing he were the one standing beside me. That strange tugging sensation I feel toward him calls to me, begging me to join him as guilt winds its way around my abdomen, sprouting roots that dig deep like a fast-growing tree.
Here he is, reaping one of the only rewards of being bound to me. How dare I wish he were here on this stage when he is finally being given something in return for his service to this Godsdamned Empire.
